"I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" is a song written and recorded by musician Prince and released as the final single from Sign O The Times.It was originally recorded in his home studio in 1982 and has since been covered by numerous artists.

The song was brought out of the vault and updated for Prince's unreleased Dream Factory final album with The Revolution. At this time, the song had a few seconds of the bluesy coda just before the main guitar solo. It was edited out before Sign “☮” the Times.

The song is an upbeat pop number featuring a combination of live drumming with two drum machine patterns.[citation needed] Also featured are two guitar solos, one wild and energetic and one more bluesy and subdued in the full album cut. The song also features small elements of alternative music. The song consists of two verses and two choruses, followed by a lengthy instrumental coda. The lyrics paint the image of a woman seeking a man to replace the one who left, while Prince refuses, saying that she would not be satisfied with a one-night stand. The music and accompanying music video pushed this song to the top 10 in the US. The video was pulled from the Sign “☮” the Times film, and is a live take of the song and included the horn section of Eric Leeds and Atlanta Bliss.

The live version of "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" from the video and Sign “☮” the Times film includes a horn solo in the song's coda. The solo lifts a part of the "Camille" and Black Album track, "Rock Hard In a Funky Place".

The single was backed by "Hot Thing", also from Sign “☮” the Times. The 12-inch single includes the full album version of "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man", as well as several remixes of "Hot Thing". One of these was included on the Ultimatecompilation album in 2006. "Hot Thing" received enough airplay by DJs to chart on its own, reaching #63.

The Goo Goo Dolls included a cover of "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" (shortened to "Never Take the Place of Your Man") on their 1990 album Hold Me Up. The vocals for this version are sung by Lance Diamond who performed in their hometown of Buffalo, New York.

After performing the song live on tour, Eels recorded a cover for their 2008 album Useless Trinkets. The album also features a cover of "If I Was Your Girlfriend", another song from Prince's Sign “☮” the Times album. The video for this version is on the DVD Eels with Strings: Live at Town Hall, but without the audio. Authorization for use of the song was not received and the audio was replaced by an 'emergency commentary' explaining the situation in a veiled, but humorous manner by Eels leader E and guitarist The Chet.

Flesh for Lulu released a live cover on their 1990 album Final Vinyl (and Live Flesh).

The German singer/songwriter Michy Reincke released a German version of "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" on his second solo CD RinTinTin in late Summer 1992, translated and reworked as "Ich bin nicht Dein Mann". In 2010 he released an acoustic version of "Ich bin nicht Dein Mann" on his CD Palais Salam.